Tucked among the shops along highway 99W, Honest Chocolates is one of Newberg’s sweetest secrets. Owner Dana Packard started experimenting with chocolates after a business trip to Switzerland in the 1980s. In the 2000s, Packard and her husband Byron Dooley, left their tech jobs in Silicon Valley and traveled to Napa Valley to learn about … [Read more...]

The Yamhill Valley culinary experience encompasses the fertile lands beyond the tasting and dining rooms.
Long before anybody thought of planting grapevines, the Yamhill Valley was a spectacularly fertile area, and it still sends its bounty all over the world–hazelnuts, olives and lavender, along with an abundance of berries.
Atop the Dundee … [Read more...]

Cultivating a community of world-class kitchens, where the bounty of the valley extends beyond the vineyards.
At JORY–which already makes a statement by being the rare four-star restaurant named after a kind of soil–Executive Chef Sunny Jin likes equanimity. To wit: the two guys in jeans still dirty from their vineyards receive the same attention … [Read more...]

Even in the enologically advanced Yamhill Valley, man does not live by wine alone.
Sometimes you just want to have a beer. For more than two decades, Golden Valley Brewery & Pub’s handcrafted brews have been the pride of McMinnville, with unusual offerings such as a doppelbock. For even deeper authenticity, the beef on the menu comes from its … [Read more...]

Allen Routt is the chef and owner of The Painted Lady in Newberg, one of three Forbes Travel Guide four-star restaurants in Oregon. We met up with him to talk about food, wine and what’s trending.
How would you describe your restaurant’s style?
Chef Routt: I’m originally from the South, and mostly trained in the European style. I like to use as … [Read more...]

Wine Country Cooking Studio
As deeply involved as you might get with the scope of Yamhill Valley vineyards or the undertones of a lively pinot noir, probably nobody’s going to let you actually make wine – unless you have a few acres of vines or a degree in oenology. But the valley does offer a vivid hands-on culinary experience.
At Wine Country … [Read more...]

In Yamhill Valley, “farm to fork” is a very short trip. Chefs are surrounded by rich farmland offering not only bountiful harvests, but endless inspiration.
The trip is shortest at The Allison Inn & Spa, where JORY restaurant can call upon an acre-and-a-half garden, producing not only the regional produce of the valley, but also aiming to … [Read more...]

Family lines reveal and redefine the authentic Yamhill Valley.
People who grow up in Yamhill Valley have some trouble leaving. It can make them devise entirely new ways to stay, and in the process, create in the valley entirely new possibilities.
Stefan Czarnecki grew up in his father’s restaurant, the Joel Palmer House, now run by his brother, … [Read more...]

In Yamhill Valley, new and exciting restaurants sprout like grapevines.
In a Victorian house in Newberg, Recipe welcomes guests with a menu offering steelhead mousse and leg of venison. In McMinnville, The Barberry sets out salmon crudo and a thick range of locally raised steaks.
It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows the talent in the … [Read more...]

Baked goods and sweets draw on the European tradition of la dolce vita.
Bread and wine are a vital combination in the Yamhill Valley, where bakeries draw from the same European inspiration as the wineries, creating the kinds of picnics which would have enthralled Impressionist painters.
Carlton Bakery creates four varieties of baguettes, eight … [Read more...]

Briar Rose Creamery offers a wine-and-cheese experience of distinction.
Closely surrounded by top-level wineries, Briar Rose Creamery’s inspiration seems as distinct as the vineyard breeze. Wine and cheese are almost a single phrase, and a tangy goat cheese complements a variety of vintages.
In the case of Briar Rose, though, there are a dozen … [Read more...]

The brand new cocktail bar in Hotel Oregon featuring vintage cocktails and special small plates! Visit them Fridays and Saturdays 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 310 N.E. Evans Street, McMinnville, OR 97128.
Located on the main floor of the hotel, right off the entry way, this new addition to the hotel is a perfect place for locals and travelers to enjoy … [Read more...]

Wine country isn’t just about the wine. It’s about the unfolding views, the earthy-sweet aromas, the ethereal blankets of fog, and the impression that you are a part of the landscape, rooted as firmly in the soil as the vines themselves.
- Rachel Ritchie, with Aaron Scott, Emily Grosvenor, Marty Patail
Portland Monthly's article, "Northwest … [Read more...]

This fall season’s bountiful harvest of Chanterelle and Lobster mushrooms claimed core places on the Joel Palmer House seasonal tasting menus, according to an article titled New Seasonally-Inspired Dishes Bring Fall Flavors to the Joel Palmer House Restaurant.
The Matsutake mushroom chowder, a signature vegetarian dish, will be returning soon … [Read more...]

The Barlow Room Restaurant and Bar in Dayton is hosting Oregon Wine Country’s premier quiz night, yet another reason to raise a glass with friends. Starting October 16, 2014, the Barlow Room will partner with Geeks Who Drink to kick off a weekly pub quiz on Thursdays.
Bring a friend or two, brainstorm an awesome team name, and you’re ready to play! … [Read more...]

52 Perfect Days, a travel article and tips website, recommends the Dundee Bistro for lunch after wine tasting. In addition to an ever-changing menu of local, organic and season ingredients, the Dundee Bistro also offers an extensive, perfectly-paired wine list. An excerpt of the article, which includes menu item examples, is quoted … [Read more...]

March 15, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
R. Stuart & Co. is holding their much anticipated crab feed!
In the winery
$60 per person, $50 for Wine Club
(Includes dinner, wine, and gratuity)
Not only will R. Stuart & Co. have boatloads of freshly caught Dungeness crab, they’ll also release the 2013 Big Fire Pinot Gris that evening. Could there be a more … [Read more...]

If you're looking for a place to eat in the bustling Yamhill Valley, consider Nick's Italian Cafe, recently named one of "America's Classics" by the James Beard Foundation. This honor is only given to establishments with quality food, local character, and lasting appeal. Nick's is a great addition to any wine country experience, with fresh Pacific … [Read more...]

June 21, 2014
Love Pizza? Love Wine? Love both?
On June 21, 2014, Red Hills Market is firing up their wood-fire oven, and driving it to the top of the hill for a delicious pizza making class with Winter's Hill Wine. You will get to work with with the chef to create your own masterpiece. Then sit down with a glass of Winter's Hill wine and enjoy the … [Read more...]

The Yelp Elite were out enjoying Domaine Serene wine recently, and it looks like they had a great time. More than 120 Portland Yelp Elites made the trek out to Oregon Wine Country for a Yelp wine tasting event at Domaine Serene, where they enjoyed award-winning wines, cheese and fruit pairings, and tours of the production facility hosted by the … [Read more...]

April 11, 2014, 6 p.m.
Join the Winter's Hill family at the table and experience the culinary wonders of Red Hills Market's Wood-Fire Oven. Chefs Jody Kropf & Shiloh Ficek will be pulling the Wood-Fire Oven right up to their cellar door to achieve a full dinning experience. From Oven to Table, this will be a night you will not want to … [Read more...]

The Passionate Foodie has featured Argyle Winery! Richard Auffrey describes Argyle's 2010 Brut Rose as "worth the price, delivering high quality, excellent taste and plenty of complexity."
The 2010 Brut Rosé ($50) is part of the Artisan Series and only 2000 cases were produced. The Rosé is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, and has an … [Read more...]

The Joel Palmer House, a family-run restaurant located in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, has been selected to serve as a Success Story for businesses looking to launch and grow in Yamhill County.
GROW Yamhill County, the organization that featured the Joel Palmer House, was launched in 2012 with the goal of creating a … [Read more...]